Groom’s Survival Guide

Now while you might well be wondering how one apparently small question could have such massive repercussions just bare in mind what this day means to the lovely lady in question. Most guys have never really given much thought to their future wedding but for many women it is a day they have pictured from their earliest memory. When you were scuffing your new school shoes chasing a ball your bride-to-be was already dreaming of her future Prince Charming (although at the time he was probably wearing a cape rather than your favourite trainers and T-shirt). It’s an over used phrase that it’s the most special day in a girl’s life but it is true. And what’s more she expects it to hold the same significance for you. So while she’s buying a newsstand’s entire stock of wedding magazines and showing you the 27 different ways she’s thinking of wearing her hair she’s hoping that thoughtful look on your

face relates to your own ideas for the wedding rather than whether you’ll get to sneak out for a quick 18 holes this weekend rather than go to yet another wedding fair. Oh yeah… and she’ll wear a dress that will cost the price of a small family car. And then never ever wear it again.

Communication is key. Despite your beloved now having turned into bridezilla, in the words of Rudyard Kipling you need to “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs”. She IS going to get stressed. She IS going to get upset. You WILL have arguments concerning the wedding day. All this is perfectly natural and doesn’t mean you love each other any less it just means you’re planning a wedding and researchers say this is one of the most stressful events in a persons life. Especially for the bride.

One of the biggest complaints brides have is that their husband-to-be doesn’t seem to get involved enough or show enough interest. Yes there is an impossible list of questions to get through; What kind of flowers? What colour tie? What gifts do you get the bridesmaids? Should you sit Cousin Albert near the door in case he has one of his “moments”? While it’s true that what font you use on the place settings isn’t going to end world hunger or bring about piece in the Middle East these small details can make all the difference on the big day so get involved. Your wedding should be an extension of your personalities with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make the two of you so different. That doesn’t mean you have to dress as Smurfs or walk down the aisle to Iron Maiden but it means you should both be have a say in how you want the day to play out.

But you will need help to. Any bride has a whole support network buzzing around her keen to help out at every step and dress fitting. Us guys are never quite as willing to look for help but it’s not a bad idea to have someone on hand you can call when you need to head on a “fact finding mission” of you own to the nearest watering hole. Make sure your best man is the right man for the job who will sit with you and help you let off some steam when you need and also be the kind of friend that can help take some of the load off your shoulders when it comes to researching cars, musicians, DJ’s, etc.

So don’t just sit back ignoring the chaos, it isn’t going to go away and you’ll only add to the bride’s stress levels and if you bury your head for too long you might wake up on the day to find you’re travelling to the church in a pink stretch limo in a lime green suit. Make decisions, enjoy the process because despite some of the potential sticking points it should be enjoyable. After all this is going to be the most significant day of your lives, its your big day too.

Writing Your Wedding Speech

Could there be anything more terrifying? For many people speaking in public is the ultimate fear while others consider being in the spotlight their rightful place and crave any audience. However most guys fear having to write and deliver a wedding speech.

Traditionally the Father of the Bride gives the first speech, during which he ends by toasting the happy couple. It also seems to be tradition for the Brides father to give the longest and dullest speech possible and talk for longer than the ceremony lasted. This can be easily avoided with a few simple tips. Second comes the Groom who will publicly thank the bridesmaids, ushers and acknowledge both sets of parents. The Best Man’s speech is usually given 3^rd and there is an expectation that this is the main act of what can sometimes be a rather dull part of proceedings. This speech will either be celebrated as the high point of the wedding or he’ll be removed bodily from the building by the bride’s angry brothers while the bride’s mother looks on scowling. The best man should not only mention the bride but he also answers on behalf of the bridesmaids and ushers for the kind words of the Groom.

Timing

At many weddings the father of the bride’s has been known to drag out a bit, well it’s only fair, he is the one that laid out all the cash so that a load of relatives he doesn’t like and strangers he’s never met and will probably never meet again can have a free meal and party at his expense. However there is no need for him to be dull and there is help at hand (see below). Most Grooms don’t prepare their speech and try to rush through it as quickly as possible, seeing as its his party the Groom can get away with delivering his speech however he chooses. The perfect wedding speech should last around 7 minutes.

Language

Swearing is a big “no no”. Just don’t do it. Remember this will be a very mixed crowd.

Jokes

Most of the time the real fun stuff comes from the Best Man however although he is there to ensure the groom gets a comedy roast what might seem really funny to a the Groom and his friends down the pub on a Friday night might not be the kind of thing that’s going to amuse the bride’s grandparents. If you are undecided about whether something is too close to the knuckle then its best to err on the side of caution.

The Basic Phases

All three of the wedding speeches can be broken down into phases, stick with this basic rules and you can’t go wrong. Here is an example of the Best Man’s speech phases.

• Introduction. Introduce yourself and your relationship to the groom. This is a good place to try your first joke to relax yourself and your audience.
• The formal bit. Reply on behalf of the bridesmaids, ushers, etc. Compliment the bride’s parents on the great day and their hospitality. And compliment the bride.
• The Roast. A few gags or a relevant story at the groom’s expense.
• Words of wisdom. Offer some words of advice or insights into marriage, this is a good place to deliver some killer jokes or quotes.
• Time to be nice. Before you wrap up and now that you have given the groom such a hard time its then time to offer some sincerity and best wishes for the future.
• Postman. Read out any messages or cards from those who couldn’t make it on the day.
• Toast. Finish your speech by asking everyone to stand and raise their glasses to the newlyweds. This might have been done by the father of the bride but no one will mind toasting the happy couple a second time and it’s a great way to bring your speech to a close.

Speech Writing Services

The internet has numerous companies that offer to write your speech for you and while this may seem an easy option it isn’t a great idea. Firstly these “writers” don’t know you, everyone has a particular way of speaking and so there’s no way they can write for your speech patterns. Also they have never met the happy couple so how can they be qualified to speak to them? No matter whether you are the Father of the Bride, the Groom or the Best Man your speech should come from you.

If need be there are plenty of sites that can help providing you with a bonanza of one liners and ice breakers that you can weave into your speech without losing your own important words. But don’t be afraid to mix good humour with a hint of romance, there are many great quotes on love and marriage which can give your speech a touch of class. Let’s face it most guys have never had to write a speech before let alone ensure that it is littered with a few laughs to keep the crowd entertained.

Using databases to help bring your speech to life is a useful tip and can certainly fill in the blanks and give you some humorous hand grenades to throw when needed but keep in mind that ultimately it must be YOUR speech and YOUR words, it’s a special celebration and your chance to pay tribute to a couple who hold you in such high esteem.

Most of all don’t let the nerves get to you. A famous English comedian once commented that giving a wedding speech is a bit like making love to the queen, it’s a great honour but nobody really wants to do it. People recognise how hard it is to have to give a wedding speech, everyone at the wedding wants you to do a great job and so is on your side willing you to do well. So relax, enjoy and don’t let it give you too many sleepless nights. Stick to the basic rules and you will be celebrated as the hero of the hour. The Father of the Bride will have the adoration of his wife and beautiful daughter and admiration of his friends and relatives. The Groom will show why his new wife chose so wisely and be welcomed into the arms of his new family. For the Best Man…. Well get it right and you could well wind up with your pick of the bridesmaids!

For more expert tips and advice go to;

www.simplythebestman.com

www.simplythefatherofthebride.com

www.simplythegroom.com

Scorpio Bride

Ah, Madame Mystery. Guests from different sides of her family, or different groups of friends, are always amazed when they start swapping notes on the day.

The Scorpio bride keeps a lot of secrets, you see, and it’s only on her wedding day that amazed friends and family start realising just how much has been kept under wraps.

This is the bride most likely to skip the big wedding and have a private ceremony. This is also the bride most likely to wear black lingerie under her dress, or no lingerie at all.

Quickie sex just before, during or after the ceremony is not out of the question for the more outrageous Scorpio brides.

The more discreet merely think of their honeymoon and salivate. Passion is a big factor in a Scorpio union, and this is the sign of the zodiac ruled by Pluto, who governs sexual desire and forbidden fruit.

Scorpios love revenge as well. If she’s been spurned by an ex boyfriend, this wedding will be her equivalent of holding up two fingers.

Scorpio Groom

Why is it that when he and his bride are standing at the altar, all anyone can think about is sex? Maybe it’s the famous sizzling Scorpio vibes, seeping out from underneath his tux.

But in truth, no Scorpio can marry without putting sex up there on his Top Three Reasons list. Consequently, the chemistry between bride and groom is a little musky and obvious.

Don’t be surprised, either, if he makes a point of not inviting certain exes or old rivals and enemies. Excluding people he loathes from his wedding is one of his great joys in life.

Jealousy is one of the biggest emotions pushing the Scorpio male’s buttons. So when the priest says "Til death do us part" he thinks it means killing her if she’s ever unfaithful.

Lots of them marry young for this reason - it’s the only way the seething Scorpio heart can ever be satisfied that his beloved is not going to stray.

This is one of the most soulful ceremonies you will ever see. It’s not about cake, it’s about the depths of the human psyche. Expect to sweat a lot.

Wedding Rings

Selecting wedding bands certainly isn't an easy decision, however many couples find this to be a very meaningful part of their wedding planning journey since these simple rings symbolize commitment and unity.

In addition, the purchase of wedding rings should be a lot less time intensive than purchasing an engagement ring since bands are normally much simpler in design.

The most common question that arises when beginning to shop for wedding bands is: "What type of metal should we buy? Gold? Platinum? White Gold? Titanium?" While all are good options, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• The biggest difference between the various metals is cost.
• Traditional yellow gold is a timeless choice and the rings will last for a lifetime. Gold is a "soft" metal, however, so small marks or scratches may make the rings dull a bit over time - this is perfectly normal. The color itself will not change.
• Platinum and titanium are heavier, stronger metals and therefore won't show marks as easily over the years. However, they are the most expensive metals and the cost may be as much as 4-5 times the cost of gold.
• If you like the look of platinum or titanium but are on a tight budget, you might consider white gold - which has the same "silver" appearance. White gold is the least expensive choice of metals, but keep in mind that the color may change a bit after many years and become just a bit "yellowish".

Tip: Wondering whether the wedding band should be worn above or below the engagement ring? (You're not alone ~ this is a common question!) Traditionally, the wedding band is worn closer to the palm - or you may wish to remember this rule as wearing the wedding band closer to the heart.

Ali and Roberto Slow Down Wedding Plans

“The Bachelorette’s” Ali Fedotowsky and fiance Roberto Martinez won’t be rushing to the altar as they originally thought they might.

“Nothing has changed – we’re still just as happy as we were,” Ali tells People.com.“When we were finished [with the show], we were so excited. We were like, ‘Oh, we’re going to get married right away.’ But if you’re rushing because you’re in love, why rush? [Just] wait. You’re going to get married any way. We’re both sort of enjoying life.”

The couple, who recently re-located to San Diego, says they are homebodies and that their wedding will probably be in California so they can stay close to home.

“We don’t want to have to travel to our own wedding,” she says. “We were thinking that maybe we’ll want to get married, then go home for a couple days, relax and then go on our honeymoon. We just came off like a three-month-long honeymoon on The Bachelorette. We were just in Tahiti! We’re tired of traveling like that.”

Kate Moss Secretly Got Married

Image by wenn.com

Kate Moss pulled a fast one on us! She secretly tied the knot to The Kills rocker Jamie Hince on August 7th!

Kate and Jamie have been dating since 2007 and she's always been super secretive about their relationship. A source said of the wedding: "It was quiet - but still very romantic."

"Kate’s had a fairly turbulent love life but she’s a romantic at heart. The plans were kept very quiet as Kate wanted the day to be low-key and purely a celebration of their love. She’s never been one for convention or tradition, but Jamie’s been there for her through thick and thin, and she simply felt the time was right."

She reportedly wore a see-through white dress and was barefoot for the ceremony. Her eight-year-old daughter Lila was one of three ring bearers at the ceremony.

The source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “They planned the day..

Bridal Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is just one of the symbols of purity and fertility that a bride carries with her on her wedding day. Though the traditional meaning of the bridal bouquet has been lost or taken for granted, most brides still bring one to the altar nonetheless, if only for aesthetic purposes. Of course, this aesthetic aspect is very important.

Keep in mind your body size and height, as you will not want a large flowing bouquet if you are very slim or petite. It will just exaggerate you. Same goes if your are voluptuous or tall. Choose something that keeps your looks in balance.